HL Deb 17 December 1998 vol 595 cc170-1WA
Lord Carmichael of Kelvingrove

asked Her Majesty's Government:

If they will announce the composition of the United Kingdom delegation for the January 1999 ordinary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. [HL381]

The Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Jay of Paddington)

The January 1999 ordinary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe will be opened in Strasbourg on 25 January. The delegation from the United Kingdom for the session will consist of 23 members of the Labour Party, nine from the Conservative Party and four members from the minority parties. The delegation will serve in place of the current delegation from the opening January 1999 ordinary session.

The appointments of representatives and substitutes have been made on the basis of nomination by the parties concerned.

The same delegation will be representing the United Kingdom parliament at the Assembly of the Western European Union.

Representatives from the Government benches will be: Mr. Terry Davis MP, who will act as leader; Mr. Tom Cox MP; Mr. Lawrence Cunliffe MP; Mr. Bill Etherington MP; Mr. Paul Flynn MP; Mrs. Maria Fyfe MP; Mr. Kevin McNamara MP; Mr. Jim Marshall MP; Mr. Eddie O'Hara MP; Mr. James Wray MP; Lord Kirkhill and Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede.

Representatives from the Conservative Party will be: Mr. David Atkinson MP; Sir Sydney Chapman MP; Mr. John Townend MP and the right honourable Sir Alastair Goodlad MP.

Representatives from the Minority Parties will be: Mr. Mike Hancock MP and Lord Russell-Johnston.

The following substitutes have been appointed to act as necessary on behalf of the delegates.

From the Government benches: Mrs. Ann Cryer MP; Ms Jenny Jones MP; Dr. Douglas Naysmith MP; Mr. Gwyn Prosser MP; Ms Debra Shipley MP; Ms Christine McCafferty MP; Miss Geraldine Smith MP; Mr. David Taylor MP; Dr. Rudi Vis MP; Lord Grenfell and Lord Judd.

From the Conservative Party—Mr. Michael Colvin MP; Mr. Christopher Gill MP; Mr. David Wilshire MP; Lord Lucas of Crudwell and Lord Northesk.

From the Minority Parties—Dr. Peter Brand MP and the Right Honourable John Taylor MP.